Show A KISS ASTRAY WO men were sitting it at a table in a quiet corner of 0 the cafe of 0 ono one of 0 the uptown fashionable ra 41 hotels of new york one evening last winter from time 04 to time one or the i J other took up the glass standing belore before him examined it with gratuitous minuteness sipped a few drops of its contents and set it back on the table nothing was said by either beyond some commonplace about the weather or a guest at another table both were waiting for something one to tell a 1 story the other to listen to it but bul the first could not apparently force himself into a mood tor for confidence and the second could not force a confidence not freely given supposing them to be unmarried a tranger stranger would say that thero there would be little to choose between them in the yes eyes of the other sex since one was quite as attractive as t the he other arid and both 1 would pass tor for ine fine looking finally the ono one who was to tell the story interrupted the exchange of trivial remarks with this apropos of nothing that had gone before it well of course this ends me with the Temple tons oh I 1 dont see why jack was the answer taken up evidently where it had benn been left unfinished on some former occasion have to go there all the same once in a while anyway just as it if nothing had bad happened no this ends the whole business naturally you dont see why but you would if I 1 told you everything its just as well though I 1 was rather expecting to go abroad next month and now flow I 1 shall have all the excuse I 1 need tor for going at once but she oh no matter about her ive finished myself in that quarter tor for good and all H 11 hm m even so why should you the use of springing that old stuff about other fish in the sea on me this that sort of an affair with me like an infernal ass I 1 keep it to myself not from you anyway but I 1 can trust you what did those old Temple tons want to interfere with it tor for ive been a trifle fast ive spent a pot of money ive done heaps of things im not particularly ticul arly proud of 0 remembering but with her I 1 would be only too glad to settle down I 1 dont suppose I 1 could make aake much of a fist of working for a living now luckily I 1 dont need to though anil and I 1 could be a decent citizen at any rate but those Temple tons seem to have an idea that im a kind of well dressed tough and they let me linow know through mutual friends confound their friends frends that I 1 have any chance with her it if they could prevent it still ive kept on calling there pretty often I 1 stay away arid and finally one day I 1 told her how bow much I 1 felt toward her there was a long silence here but archie made no attempt to end it jack 71 V IN DUMB honnon took a sip from his glass whirled it around back and forth half a dozen times on the table by the stem and at last laft went on without looking up 1 I suppose I 1 may as well tell you the whole thing we went on oil afterward just the same as ever as tar far aa the saw they probably took me to be a pretty industrious caller but nothing more they took good care though not to leave us together much still we found means of keeping our affair going and she promised to wait dear girl as long as necessary or until her father and mother get into a different frame of mind about me you know that way I 1 have of arum arning out tunes ou on the piano the question seemed so irrelevant that archie looked up tip amazed why yes he answered hastily that got to ta do with it everything everything when I 1 called on her I 1 often used to sit down at the piano while waiting for her to come downstairs and play some melody she liked I 1 was intimate enough enough with the family tor for that I 1 had a fool idea I 1 suppose that my playing was a kind of love lova message rubbish of course but a fellow in rhy my condition will suppose anything sometimes I 1 id d be playing louder than usual and hear her when she came into be ae room those times it if tho the old folks around she would steal up tip belind me ma and put her hands bands on my shoulders then I 1 well I 1 used to put ny my arms vp up and pull her sweet little lace down to mine and pshaw the use ot of remembering that low another pause which archie tilled filled ip by lighting a fresh cigar and offer ng one to jack who gazed blankly at it some minutes without accepting it ind then continued night before last I 1 called on her rhe maid said she was dressing but would see me as soon as possible at ter my usual fashion I 1 went to drum ming on the piano I 1 remember I 1 wai waa playing at that time the lovers sons song in alda when they are burled buried alive I 1 was blue and it seemed to lo fit tile the situation somehow how we were buried alive I 1 thought in the tomb of the templeton prejudices I 1 dont know how long lone I 1 played I 1 got interested in the music suddenly Sua denly I 1 felt tile the light pressure of two hands on my shoulders and I 1 reached 1 back aek over my head as I 1 had dozens of times before and drew her face quickly down to mine and kissed it madly in another second I 1 had leaped oft off the tha piano stool in dumb horror I 1 had seen the face and it 11 my little girl at all but her mother old mrs templeton heaven knows what had possessed her lie r to do what she did but she had done it I 1 absolutely gasped with ond and be acan an stammering all sorts of 0 taig its erable apologies finally blurting out like a double dyed idiot as I 1 was 1 I know kilow it was you 3 ou t 1 1 who did you think it wast was that was all the old lady said but she said it with a north pole sort ot of deadly composure that set me shivering to my vitals with a cold perspiration I 1 saw in an instant that I 1 had betrayed everything so I 1 plunged deeper into complete imbecility my aly dear mrs alls templeton I 1 exactly mean that im sure I 1 ill d nt me mean gb thing but I 1 was so startled I 1 1 I fact is im not at nil all well this evening please give my compliments to miss templeton and say I 1 was not feeling well and bad to leave without seeing her good evening with that I 1 fairly ran out of tile the room and the house by the way I 1 left that cane you like so much at the house but pra im satisfied so long as I 1 got out alive now do you think I 1 shall do any more calling at the Temple tons it if jack was expecting either sympathy or advice now that diat his story was told he certainly got neither article from archie who broke out into a peal of laughter that attracted attract ca tile the wondering attention of every one in the room and even startled the sedate waiters 1 I really beg your pardon old man he said when he could finally speak lut but there Is a tremendous tunny funny side to your adventure honestly I 1 my d dear ar jack im not laughing at you but just list think ot of making such an awful break with old lady templeton why ashes the main brace and chief pillar in dr bartons church and this is her first scandal in her long and highly respectable spec table career jack gazed ruefully at archie well he sighed I 1 daresay there is something funny about it for somebody else dut but how about me and her what shall I 1 do do do nothing old man was the hil ailous rejoinder youre all right and ill bet be t a hat ou on it you just keep quiet and wait meanwhile fiust to me to keep mum 0 when jack reached his bachelor quarters that night he found this note awaiting him west fifty first street sly lily dear jack what did you do to mamma the other night I 1 came downstairs and found her in the drawing room instead of you the gentleman you call jack rather familiar it seems to me Is ill she said at least he told me so and he asked me to present his apologies tor for riot not waiting to see you of course I 1 was dreadfully frightened but mamma said she was sure the illness was not in any way dangerous because she knew what caused it were you really very ill jack do you know mamma was just as sweet as she could be about it she comforted me and said I 1 should write this note to you 1 with her compliments ments she was very particular about my putting that in to ask you to call at the house tomorrow morning she says she wants to talk to you about your illness she told me to be sure to underline that word and jack she actually said she has been looking up your accor record d and she convinced you are a much better young man than she has been led to believe you will call tomorrow as early as possible wont you jack I 1 shall have lots to tell you always yours december 16 GRACE 1 I rather guess there will be a good deal tc tell all around in that house when ihen I 1 get there thought jack as he performed some foolishness over the little note 1 I dont understand a bit what mrs airs templeton Is driving at but ill call to see her tomorrow with my life in my hands it if the heavens dont tall fall in the meantime 0 jack it at the present writing Is a decent citizen at auy any rate and a married one ile he recovered that cane from tho the templeton house some time ago by the by and archie Is carrying it now as a gentle reminder that certain things are not to be discussed outside of certain circles archie also has a hat more than usual in his collection ot of headgear head gaar |